Football/Soccer Session (Advanced): Possession to Penetrate in a 3-5-2 - Focused mainly in attacking half

4v4+3 Rondo (15 mins)

Set Up: Use a 20*15 area (may need to adjust size of area based on developmental level of players).

The attacking team is on the outisde (red in this diagram) while the blue team defends. Both teams have four players. There are also three neutral players (two targets and one central). Team in possession try to move the ball from one target player to the other.

If the defending team (blue) wins the ball they become the attackers and must now position themselves on the outside while the red team would now become the defenders and position themselves centrally.

Coaching Points:

- Always try to have open body stance when in possession to aid faster speed of play when in possession

(Less of a focus on recovery day)

- Whenever ball is lost team must make quick transition to win the ball back starting with player that is closest to ball. All players must react quickly

- Immediately after losing possession players should try to get the ball back before the other team has a chance to get organized

7v7 Positional Possession Game (20 mins)

Use an area 40*50 to play 7v7. On one end line place three mini goals along and two gates as shown in the diagram. On the other end line place two mini goals. 

The attacking team (red) plays with three central midfield players, two wing backs, and two forwards (from a 3-5-2). 

The defensive team (blue) plays with a back four and three central midfield players. 

There are also 3 neutral players on the endline with two mini goals that play with the team in possession. 

The game starts with one of the neutral players playing into the attacking team (red) who try to score in the three mini goals; they can also score by dribbling through one of the two gates or playing a pass through the gate for a teammate to collect. 

Defensive team scores in the two mini goals on the opposite end line. 

COACHING DETAIL IN POSSESSION

• PICKING THE RIGHT TIME - Team A should be patient in possession, and move the ball quickly to create spaces to penetrate when the time is right. Players should not force balls into tight areas.
• POCKET RUNS - The coach uses the two target gates to encourage ‘pocket runs’ in between the opposition centre-backs and full-backs on each side. These runs can be difficult to defend, as the defenders’ eyelines can be restricted.
• SMALL SPACE TO BIG SPACE - The coach encourages the attacking team to draw defenders in by playing in small spaces, before switching with quality into the opposite half of the pitch, where there are bigger spaces from which to create goalscoring chances.
• MAKING THE PITCH AS WIDE AS POSSIBLE - Using the wing-backs to make the pitch wide will create space for central players to find pockets of space in which to receive. The wing-backs can also create good passing options in wide areas to play forward once they’ve received.
• COMBINATION PLAY - The coach can use a maximum two-touch rule to ensure the players combine quickly. This increases the chances of moving the ball from small spaces to big spaces.

• COUNTER-PRESS - Both teams are expected to counter-press at every opportunity. Putting quick, aggressive pressure on the ball once possession has been lost will increase the chances of regaining it.
• COMPACT TO RESTRICT SPACE - Team B players are encouraged to be compact at all times, to restrict space for the attacking team to play within. Distances between players must be small, with the challenge to force backwards and sideways passes.